A Word With Polk's Business People: Linda Bishop, Owner of The Learning Curve

Monday

Nov 19, 2012 at 10:08 PM

Although she is not teaching anymore, Linda Bishop has found a different approach to helping children. After 21 years of teaching and being an assistant principal, Bishop, 54, wanted to experience something different. She and her daughter, Jolee Beamer, 30, opened The Learning Curve in 2007.

By KRYSTAL MODIGELLLEDGER CORRESPONDENT

WINTER HAVEN | Although she is not teaching anymore, Linda Bishop has found a different approach to helping children.

After 21 years of teaching and being an assistant principal, Bishop, 54, wanted to experience something different. She and her daughter, Jolee Beamer, 30, opened The Learning Curve in 2007.

The store is a popular place to find gifts. The store also has educational decor for churches, homes and classrooms.

After 5½ years of operation, Bishop reflects on her experience and gives details about her business.

Q. Why is this business important?

A. Parents and grandparents are always looking for materials for their kids and their families from an educational standpoint. They want to have things to supplement their child's day and things they are doing at their school. Then there's the other group that comes in just wanting something fun to build their family unit.

We have several parents that shop with us on a very regular basis for their birthdays and we see them coming in the parking lot. We have one parent who shops with us so much that we tease him. We say, ‘Your child has to be everybody's best friend because he goes to everybody's birthday parties.' The dad would just walk in the door and say, ‘Girl, age 8, $15.' And we would show him something and he would say, ‘Great, wrap it up.' He trusts us and he knows we won't steer him wrong.

Q. What do you enjoy about your business?

A. I enjoy being able to work with family and I love being able to help people as they come in — whether they are teachers or parents. We love being able to actually help them find what they are looking for. When I was teaching, I liked to be able to help

parents, help their kids and give them things they could do to help their kids at home. This is a whole different way to get at that.

Q. Why do you enjoy working with your daughter?

A. Well, I love her. We like each other and we think alike. We can read each other's minds. And plus, she cuts me some slack when I don't do so well. When I'm the old lady and mom, she cuts me some slack.

Q. What's something you have learned about running a business over the past 5½ years?

A. Customer service is probably more important than even what you are selling. People really want to have their needs met when they walk in the door. I don't think people like to walk in the big-box stores and feel lost and feel like they are wandering through aisles of junk. They like people that they know and a lot of our customers have come to trust us and know we select really good material. They know I have an educational background. Jolee is super at picking out a lot of the toys and games, making sure they are safe and sound and age appropriate.